NEW YEARS EVE!

 With all that was going on this Christmas break and with New Year's being on a Sunday - no one really made plans! Everyone went to Grandma and Grandpa Rodgers house and we had dinner, played some games and hung out for a while until the boys were ready to go to their friends houses. Tyler's ankle is still broken so he doesn't like going to his friends houses because he can't keep up with them on crutches so he stayed home with us and watched a movie, ate some treats and then we went out back at midnight and froze our bare feet off while we watched all the fireworks being shot off around us. Eli ended up at Jake's house and Sara made them fondue and then at midnight they banged some pots and pans together! Tyson ended up with friends at the Halls house! Then when we go to pick up Tyson we discover that he is a complete moron and could have died, lost an eye or a hand! Him and his buddies decided to go to a park to set off fireworks and they had a mortar, but the fuse fell out. They tried to attach it but it wouldn't work. They found another fuse, but that wouldn't work either because it was all wet. So these dumbasses decided to light the mortar without a fuse. They originally told Tyson to hold it in his hand while he lit it but luckily he listened to the still small voice and opted not to do that and instead lit it on the ground. Well it got him good right by his eye, on his neck and on his finger. His ears rang so loud and hard he couldn't tell what anyone was saying to him as they were asking him if he was ok. Hopefully he learned his lesson. Why are 15 year old boys so stupid?! Happy New Year everyone! 

SUNS GAME!

 My work has amazing season tickets....5th row center court with access to a private suite underneath the stadium! I've tried for 3 years to get tickets to a game, but I never get them. Finally my chance came! A doctor hadn't claimed the tickets and Hunsaker told me, if they don't claim them just go! Jared and I were busy cleaning up from Braden's funeral and we didn't want to go down there only to have the doctor use them before we got there so as soon as the 1st quarter started and they weren't claimed - we took off! We got there a few minutes before half time. We decided to skip the game and hit up the suite first. We thought it would just be nachos or popcorn - which it did have...but it also had steak, pizza, fresh fruit, desserts, etc. They made everything right in front of you! It was amazing! I had no idea that existed underneath the seats!! The game was amazing - I couldn't believe how big the players finally looked in person and how close we were! We had the best time!!! Jared and I have not done very much this year and so when you can count the dates on one hand - so glad this was one of them! 

WEDDING DRESS SHOPPING!

 We booked Emma an appointment to go wedding dress shopping the day after Christmas! I told her no wedding stuff before Christmas because I really wanted to focus on Christmas, but afterwards it was wedding go time! We booked a private event at A Dressy Occassion so we could have the store to ourselves and invite as many people as we wanted! She  invited both Grandmas (but Grandma Jensen couldn't make it because she just had hip surgery) She invited Caryn, Ashley, Dalton and Jenn (Caryn and Ashley couldn't make it because they weren't in town) and she invited Kati and Anni and Alyza. She got up early and did her hair and make up and we were off! She tried on roughly a dozen dresses. When she stepped into the one she got she teared up and said this is the one! We had her try on a couple more just to make sure, but it was indeed the one! I actually happen to find it randomly on the rack which meant it was meant to because they thought they didn't have anymore in the store and it was one of the ones she was looking for and it was her size! She found the perfect veil to go with it! We left the bridal store, went next door and I treated everyone to Swig and then Kati and Anni took us to Morenos and treated us to lunch! Then we went home and took Jared and Hunter to Nordstroms Rack to get them suits for the wedding and socks, belts, shirts, ties, shoes, etc! Then we had another miracle happen and the wedding dress alterations lady was able to squeeze us in for a fitting! The day was perfect! We got everything done!! She is going to be so beautiful on her wedding day!! 

CHRISTMAS 2023!

 We still were able to sneak in a few more Christmas traditions! We were all set to go downtown Gilbert to the church's Giving Machine, but earlier that day we recieved a text that since Braden's family was supposed to be out of the country for Christmas they didn't have any presents so we went out and bought all the kids a present so they would have something under the tree! Emma still wanted Hunter to experience the Giving Machine so those 2 still did it while we hung out and Grandma and Grandpa's house - mostly because the boys were starving and wanted to mooch off of some cookies from them. We also went to the Mesa Temple to check out the lights, we don't always do that, but since Hunter had never been I thought we should make sure we take him! That night we all went to dinner at Zin Burger! feeding a family of 7 is getting expensive - it was almost $200 - but we all had the best time so it was plenty worth it!!  We came home and watched a Christmas movie that night. The next day was Christmas Eve and we all went to Sacrament together and we went to my parents house for fondue and presents and our matching Christmas pajama pants! Came back home and watched another Christmas movie and then all the kids went and slept on the ground together in the BRO while Hunter slept next to them on the couch - ha ha! We woke up and had breakfast and opened presents! It was a good Christmas season all together! 

SANTA LETTERS!

 We were inside Macy's and I didn't see their big Santa Mailbox so I asked the security gaurd on the way out if they still had it and he said no...luckily in Brady's neighborhood someone had one in their yard...so off we went to drop our cards off! Turns out the letters still get to Santa no matter where you mail them from! 

ENCHANTMENT!

 It's hard sometimes to have the magic of  Christmas as kids get older and everyone gets so busy so I try to do somethings that bring in the magic of Christmas. This year I decided we should try ice skating at the Enchantment in Scottsdale and check it out. We got there a little later because I was with Eli at Braden's ALAQC Vigil, but that's ok we still had time for ice skating! It was a magical night and we even ran into Tatum who took us to get pictures with Santa! It was late and we live far so on the way home we stopped by Los Favs and got breakfast burritos around midnight! I love our family and the times we get to spend together! I even love that they put spikes on Tyler's shoe so we could ice skate with us! The kids got better this year than they did the first time!